Where the gods are found

I don’t currently see myself as a polytheist, but this is an interesting commentary about finding the spirit (Spirit) of place. This is something that we have been discussing off and on over at the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids message board off and on for a while, as American Druids. Several of us Americans have a feeling of being adrift, as so much of traditional and mythological Druidry is generally European and specifically Celtic and Gaulish. In short, we (well, I, at least) can’t help but wonder how to be an American Druid, since us immigrants (as are all of us white folk, as opposed to First Nations/Native Americans) have families that look an awful lot like nomads, moving about the country and not having much of a “traditional family home” to look back on.

One Reply to “Where the gods are found”

To connect with the spirit of the land you need to get out and spend time with it. Observe what’s going on around you while you’re out in it. Sit down for awhile and meditate. Is there a correlation between where you are and areas in Europe? Are the trees around you Oaks, Ash, Pine? Are there animals around that the Druids would have known? A spring? A river? Is the growth cycle the same here as over there, or do you need to tweak your alignment of the seasons? You need to connect in a way that feels authentic to you, with correspondences that feel right. Knowing the history of a thing is a start, but when you strip away the books and bindings, how does it feel? There are many natural places around town that you can go and connect with the land, get out and explore.